National teams Squad Stars in Europe
stars in Europe - Uche not angry at Nigeria World Cup snub

The Villarreal striker was not picked by Keshi, despite scoring 12 goals in the Spanish top flight this season. Uche has not played for his country since they won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year. The 30-year-old insists, however, that he holds no grudges against Keshi. "Of course as a professional footballer you'd love to represent your country, but I have never had bad words towards the national coach," Uche is widely regarded as one of Nigeria's most reliable strikers at international level and is one of his nation's all-time top scorers, with 18 goals in 45 appearances, behind Rashidi Yekini, Segun Odegbami and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. 

More
10 May 2014
Featured Legends
LEGENDS - ‪‪FRANCE - ‪Thierry Henry‬ - the top-scorer

Thierry Daniel Henry, born 17 August 1977, is a French footballer who plays as a striker for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. In July 2008, Arsenal fans voted him as Arsenal's greatest player ever in Arsenal.com's Gunners' Greatest 50 Players poll. At Barcelona, Henry was given the number 14 jersey, the same as he had worn at Arsenal. 

More
8 May 2014
International Player National teams Squad World Cup 2014
2014 World Cup - squad - Shola Ameobi in provisional Nigeria squad

Stoke striker Peter Odemwingie and Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi are in Nigeria's provisional 30-man World Cup squad for Brazil 2014.

More
7 May 2014
Featured FIFA 100 Key-Player Legends
LEGENDS - ‪‪FRANCE - Patrick Vieira‬‬

He has 107 caps for France, and was part of their 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning sides, as well as their runner-up finish in the 2006 World Cup. Vieira is currently Football Development Executive at Manchester City with a role to oversee aspects such as youth development, commercial partners and the club's social responsibility programme, "City in the Community".

More
5 May 2014
Club Stars in Europe Transfers
stars in Europe - Wilfried Bony - Ivory Coast striker happy at Swansea City

The Ivorian has scored 24 goals in all competitions since joining the Swans from Vitesse Arnhem for a club-record fee of £12m last summer. Bony, 25, has been the bright spot in a disappointing Premier League season. 

More
4 May 2014
Coaches National teams
NATIONAL TEAM - MOROCCO - COACH - former player Badou Zaki confirmed as new coach

Zaki takes charge of the Atlas Lions for the second time in his career.

More
3 May 2014
African Confederation Cup Club Coaches
club - coaches - Youssef resigns as Al Ahly coach

Al Ahly has accepted the resignation of coach Mohamed Youssef on Thursday. Youssef had been in charge of Al Ahly since May last year following the resignation Hossam El Badry.

More
2 May 2014
African Champions League Club Featured Transfers
African Champions League 2014 - Katumbi wants European-style investment

He believes that such a boost in finances will also mean more African players staying to play on the continent. "We are trying to offer the best things that we have to our players - it's really tough in Africa to maintain a club," he said. "I think the day African players remain on the continent, then Africa can win the World Cup.

More
1 May 2014
African Champions League National League
African Champions League 2014 - DR Congo rivals drawn together

TP Mazemebe, runners-up in last year's Confederation Cup, and AS Vita Club are fierce rivals

More
30 Apr 2014
African Confederation Cup Fixtures+Results
African Confederation Cup 2014: play offs - 2nd leg - fixtures & results

Fixtures and results for the 2014 Confed Cup.
2013 champions: CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)

Winners advance to group stage

More
29 Apr 2014
Africa Cup 2017 Qualifiers National teams Squad Stars in Europe

STARS IN EUROPE - CONGO DR - SQUAD - Afobe included in DR Congo squad

AFRICAN CUP 2017 QUALIFIERS Benik Afobe

 

Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe has been included in the Democratic Republic of Congo squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola later this month.

The 23-year-old has represented England at youth level since 2005, having captained the Under-12s, won the Victory Shield with the U16s, and turned out for the U17s, U19s and U21s.

Last month Afobe revealed that a lack of chances to make England's senior squad could lead him to turn to the country of his parents.

DR Congo coach, Florent Ibenge, has now handed him a maiden call-up in a 32-man provisional squad for the Group B fixtures at home on 26 March and away in Lubango three days later.

Afobe holds dual nationality and has not played for England's senior side, making him eligible for the Leopards - once an application has been made to Fifa and approved.

Afobe, who moved to Bournemouth from Wolves for £10m in January, has scored five goals in 11 appearances for the Cherries so far this season. 

The former Arsenal striker scored 23 goals in two seasons with Wolves.

Other Premier League stars listed includes Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba, Norwich City duo Youssouf Mulumbu and Dieumerci Mbokani, and fit-again Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie.

Expectedly, goalkeeper Ley Matampi and defender Joel Kimwaki, who both starred as the country won the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for a second time last month, are in the squad.

DR Congo are currently third in Group B after a home win over Madagascar and a shock 2:0 defeat at Central African Republic in September.

CHAN winner Ibenge, who also guided DR Congo to third place at last year's Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, is desperate for positive results against group leaders Angola.

Only group winners are guaranteed automatic qualification to the tournament in Gabon.

The Leopards have also progressed to the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.


Provisional DR Congo squad:

Goalkeepers: 

Riffi Mandanda 
(Ajaccio, France)

Ley Matampi 
(DCMP)

Joel Kiassumba 
(FC Wohlen, Switzerland)


Defenders: 

Chancel Mbemba 
(Newcastle, England)

Gabriel Zakuani 
(Peterborough, England)

Wilson Kamakuaka 
(Sturm Graz, Austria), 

Junior Baometo 
(FC Saint Eloi Lupopo)

Christopher Oualembo 
(Academia Coimbra, Portugal)

Marcel Tisserand 
(Toulouse, France)

Joel Kimwaki 
(TP Mazembe)

Bobo Ungenda 
(Kabuscorp, Angola)

Padou Bopunga 
(Vita Club)

Joyce Lomalisa 
(Vita Club)

Chris Mavinga 
(Troyes, France)


Midfielders: 

Youssouf Mulumbu 
(Norwich, England)

Chikito Lema Mabidi 
(Raja Casablanca, Morocco)

Jordan Nkololo 
(Caen, France)

Neeskens Kebano 
(Genk, Belgium)

Nelson Munganga 
(Vita Club)

Merveille Bope 
(TP Mazembe)

Rémi Mulumba 
(FC Lorient, France)

Litombo Bangala 
(DCMP)

Jacques Maghoma 
(Birmingham City, England)


Forwards: 

Cédric Bakambu 
(Villarreal, Spain)

Dieumerci Mbokani 
(Norwich, England)

Benik Afobe 
(Bournemouth, England)

Yannick Bolasie 
(Crystal Palace, England)

Paul-José Mpoku 
(Chievo Verona, Italy)

Firmin Mubele Ndombe 
(Al Ahli Doha, Qatar)

Cedric Mabwati 
(Columbus Crew, USA)

Jonathan Bolingi 
(TP Mazembe)

Meschack Elia 
(TP Mazembe)

 

 

 

15 Mar 2016
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

Related countries
Congo DR England

Related articles